Ajax were without the ill Wout Weghorst, with Kasper Dolberg leading the line in his place. The Dane and his team made a poor start to the match. Within a minute, PSV opened the scoring. At the far post, Ricardo Pepi finished off a flicked-on long throw.
A good ten minutes later, Ajax responded. A set-piece routine from a corner ended up just outside the box with Anton Gaaei, who then struck powerfully into the net: 1-1.
The goal visibly boosted the Ajacieden’s confidence, as their play improved significantly afterwards. Ajax produced an excellent first half, but a second goal did not follow. Among others, Kasper Dolberg and Jorthy Mokio were unable to convert their chances.
After the break, far less happened. Ajax were unable to reproduce the good play from the first half. There were far fewer chances, yet PSV still took the lead thirteen minutes from time through a close-range finish by Myron Boadu: 1-2.
Ajax did not give up, although a real late push never truly materialised. Still, a reward came in stoppage time: Mika Godts struck a loose ball first-time and finished superbly to make it 2-2.
Ajax therefore still claimed a point, one that could prove crucial in the battle for Champions League places. Two rounds of matches remain in the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie.
Ajax - PSV 2-2 (1-1)
1. Pepi 0-1
11. Gaaei 1-1
77. Boadu 1-2
90+2 Godts 2-2
Ajax: Paes, Gaaei, Sutalo, Baas, Rosa, Itakura (82. Bounida), Regeer (71. Steur), Mokio, Berghuis (71. Gloukh), Dolberg (82. Konadu), Godts.
